Isaiah West shared his outlook for his sophomore season as Arthur Smith steps in to lead the Ohio State offense and elevate the ground game with a stable of running backs. 

The Silver Bulletin asked Isaiah West to describe his 2026 season in one word. He smirked and confidently said, “Explosive.” After asking West how he would describe his season in 2026, The Silver Bulletin asked how he would describe his team heading into 2026. This time, with a confident nod, West said, “11 strong.” His head certainly appears to be in the right place heading into a massive year for himself and the Buckeyes.

Sharing a backfield with the surging Bo Jackson, it’s easy to see why Isaiah has adopted this mindset. After seeing action in ten games during his 2025 freshman campaign, Isaiah West looks to capitalize and take the next step in what should be a new-look offense under Arthur Smith.

In the NFL, Smith heavily utilized the run game to set up the play-action pass. He often used a primary back to shoulder the load, like Derrick Henry or Najee Harris, and then a change-of-pace back to keep the defense off balance.

With his team likely adopting a more running-back-heavy scheme, one can deduce that a back like Isaiah West will certainly have a significant role in the offense moving forward. An area the Buckeyes struggled with a year ago in the running game was making guys miss in the second level. Jackson and West excelled at getting past the point of attack but struggled to gain chunk yardage or explosive plays.

Bringing that dynamic to the offense is a point of emphasis from Carlos Locklyn this spring. He’s a big believer in the depth of his room, despite its shaky start due to injuries. Once the stable of backs is fully healthy, the combination of Arthur Smith’s concepts and the toughness and physicality of Lockyln’s coaching means the Buckeyes expect the room to elevate and anchor the offense this season.

Although Ryan Day has made it known during his spring press conference that the Buckeyes will run whatever offense makes them “the most efficient” in 2026. With the emergence of Legend Bay in spring practice, it is becoming abundantly clear that West will have to find ways to stand out amongst what will be an exceptionally deep backfield for Ohio State.

Ryan Day has publicly challenged Isaiah West and Bo Jackson this spring to take the next step in year two, saying he needs them to be able to “make guys miss or run them over.” Carlos Locklyn echoed similar sentiments during his spring media availability, saying his “expectations are for both of them to be elite this year.”

West’s disposition is noticeably kind; however, given his “explosive” mentality, this should be a challenge he welcomes with open arms. Jeremaish Smith and Cortez Hankton also highlighted the need for yards after the catch in 2026 for the receiver room, which means big plays are a focal point for the Ohio State offense.

One mild concern for West is that he appeared in only 5 games during his senior year of high school due to a knee injury, which lingered into his collegiate career. He wasn’t cleared for football activities until fall camp last year, which is why he was used cautiously early in the 2025 season.

West appeared in 10 games for the Buckeyes, and the vast majority of his snaps were in Week 7 or later. West certainly flashed some of his explosiveness by averaging over 5 yards per carry in his limited time, which included snaps in key games like Michigan and Indiana.

Wear and tear on running backs is always a concern. Ohio State has a deep room and will be able to preserve the legs of Jackson and West for a deep playoff run, much like 2024.

When asked about his second season in Columbus, West optimistically stated, “I’m excited, I’m not going to say too much about it. I’d much rather just show y’all.” His eagerness to show Buckeye Nation what he’s all about is clear as day.

The coaching staff clearly has trust in Isaiah West, and the expectations for him are to be a key piece of the offense in 2026. A significant step in his overall development is imperative. Still, with his steadfast attitude and Ohio State’s ability to develop talent, West is primed to be one of the next great Buckeye playmakers.

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